Taking Aviation to new heights – Blackcomb Aviation takes delivery of a new AS350 B3 delivered from Eurocopter Canada

28 January 2010

FORT ERIE, ON Canada – Today, Blackcomb Aviation continued the expansion of its rotary fleet with the delivery of a new AS350 B3 from Eurocopter Canada Limited (ECL).

“This is an important addition to our fleet,” commented Sacha McLean, Chief Executive Officer of Blackcomb Aviation, “it increases our aircraft to a healthy ratio of 18 helicopters and 6 jets with a few single engine aircraft thrown in for good measure. More importantly, the B3 is an aircraft our customers have been asking for. Its applications are well known and we’ll be putting it to good use in our utility, filming, and emergency service operations particularly during the 2010 Winter Games.”

The AS350 B3 is well suited for missions requiring high performance in terrains such as Canada’s Rockies and offers exceptional lifting power, excellent endurance, and fast cruise speed. The AS350 B3 is the high performance, heavy-duty single engine helicopter of the Eurocopter line. It offers room for 6-7 occupants, a maximum weight capacity of 2,370 kgs/ 5,225 lbs, and a fast cruising speed of 140 knots (279 kph).

The ergonomic and wide cabin offers excellent visibility, high levels of comfort for both the pilot and passengers and can be reconfigured quickly and easily for different types of missions.

Powered by Safran’s Arriel 2B 1 turbine engine, the aircraft is equipped with a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system for automatic start-up sequences engine performance and carefree engine handling. The engine also features modern technology, with single-crystal turbine blades and a single power stage for outstanding reliability and simplified maintenance.

“The AS350 B3 is the workhorse of the Ecureuil family and is very well adapted for the challenges Canadian utility operators face on a daily basis”, said Guy Joannes, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eurocopter Canada. “We appreciate Blackcomb Aviation’s choice to introduce a B3 into their fleet and are confident their selection will be validated time again by their customers. ECL is fully prepared to support Blackcomb Aviation’s operations, with the introduction of this new aircraft.”

Blackcomb Aviation is recognized as one of British Columbia’s aviation success stories. The company emerged in a series of business transactions that combined the strengths of three distinguished BC aviation companies under the Blackcomb Aviation umbrella. The result was a full-service, multi-fleet aviation company with aircraft charter, maintenance, and acquisition services in rotary and fixed wing divisions. The company’s bases in Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, Victoria, Bridge River Valley, and Sechelt offer a range of efficiencies to a wide customer base operating in geographical locations across the province.

“We’ve positioned our bases strategically throughout British Columbia for obvious reasons but it’s really the versatility of our fleet that sets us apart from our competitors,” says McLean. “Our value as an operator is tied to the quality of our aircraft, the expertise of our people, and the reputation of our SMS program which is setting a new benchmark in rotary wing utility flight operations. We take pride in matching the right aircraft with every flight. This new B3 from Eurocopter is a direct reflection of that commitment.”

About ECL and Eurocopter Group

Eurocopter Canada Limited (www.eurocopter.ca) is a subsidiary of Eurocopter. Eurocopter Canada – based in Fort Erie, Ontario – has a customer support network that spans the entire country. Eurocopter Canada celebrated 2009 as its 25th anniversary year. Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a Division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defence and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approx. 15,600 people. In 2009, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market, with a turnover of 4.6 billion Euros, orders for 344 new helicopters, and a 52 percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors. Overall, the Group’s products account for 30 percent of the total world helicopter fleet. Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 18 subsidiaries on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centres. More than 10,500 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,800 customers in more than 140 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.